एवं संपूज्य विधिवत्कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणाम् आरुह्य सुविमानं स याति भानोः सलोकताम्
Thus, having properly worshipped and performed circumambulation, he boards a splendid aerial chariot and attains the same realm as the Sun.
पुनः संपूज्य देवेशं जपं कुर्याद्यथेष्टकम् एवमेकैकशः कार्याः सप्तम्यः सप्त सर्वदा
Again, having worshipped the Lord of gods, one should recite the desired mantra; in this way, each of the seven saptamīs should always be performed individually.
उदकप्रसृतिं पीत्वा क्रियते या तु सप्तमी
After drinking the water offering, the saptamī rite is performed.
या काचित्सप्तमी नोक्ता तां ते वक्ष्यामि मर्वदा
Whatever saptamī has not been mentioned, I will now tell you, O Marvada.
अनेन देयमूल्येन यल्लब्धं तत्प्रभक्षयेत
With the price given for this, one should consume whatever is obtained.
व्यासभीष्मसंवादवर्णनम् स्तुवन्तः कं कमर्चतः प्राप्नुयुर्मानवाः शुभम्
Description of the dialogue between Vyāsa and Bhīṣma. Those who praise and worship whom, O men, attain auspiciousness?
को धर्मः सर्वधर्माणां कश्च पूज्यो मतस्तव
What is the highest dharma among all dharmas, and who, in your opinion, is worthy of worship?
भीष्मस्य नरशार्दूल व्यासस्य च महात्मनः
Of Bhīṣma, O tiger among men, and of Vyāsa, the great soul...
सुखासीनं महाव्यासं गंगाकूले द्विजोत्तम
The great Vyāsa, seated comfortably on the bank of the Ganges, O best among twice-born...
साक्षान्नारायणं देवं तेजसादित्यसन्निभम्
The Lord Nārāyaṇa himself, whose brilliance is like the Sun...
महाभारतकर्तारं वेदार्थनिकषं परम्
The creator of the Mahābhārata, the supreme touchstone of Vedic meaning...
कर्तारं कुरुवंशस्य दैवतं परमं मम
The creator of the Kuru lineage, the supreme deity for me...
देवदेवस्य माहात्म्यं चित्तस्थं भास्करस्य तु
The greatness of the god of gods, the Sun, is established in the mind.
ममाख्यातं त्वया सर्वं वाङ्मयं सचराचरम्
You have told me everything, all the words and all that moves and does not move.
भास्करस्य मुनिश्रेष्ठ संशयोद्यापि वर्तते
O best of sages, yet still there remains a doubt regarding the Sun.
ब्रह्मादीनां तु रुद्राद्यैर्ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन हेतुना
Tell me truly, with reasons, about Brahma and the others, and Rudra and the rest.
कीर्तयस्व यथान्यायं कौतुकं हि परं मम
Describe properly, for my curiosity is indeed great.
स्तुवंतश्च तमर्चाभिः सिद्धा ब्रह्मादयः सुराः
Brahma and the other accomplished gods praise him with hymns and worship.
सर्वेषामेव देवानामादिरादित्य उच्यते
Among all the gods, the Sun is said to be the first.
स धर्मः सर्वधर्माणां स च पूज्यतमो मतः
He is the dharma among all dharmas, and is considered the most worthy of worship.
अदितिः कश्यपसती आदित्यस्तेन चोच्यते
Aditi is the virtuous wife of Kashyapa; therefore, he is called Aditya.
तस्मादेतज्जगत्सर्वमादित्यात्संप्रवर्तते
From him, the Sun, this entire world proceeds.
रुद्रोपेंद्रौ तथेंद्रश्च ब्रह्मा दक्षोथ कश्यपः
Rudra, Upendra, Indra, Brahma, Daksha, and Kashyapa—
मुखाद्भूतो विरिंचिस्तु रुद्रो वक्षस्थलात्ततः
Virinchi (Brahma) arose from his mouth, Rudra then from his chest,
वामपादतलाद्दक्षो दक्षिणात्कश्यपस्तथा तेनासौ देव आदित्यः सर्वदेवेषु पूजितः
Daksha from the sole of his left foot, and likewise Kashyapa from the right; thus this god, Aditya, is worshipped among all the gods.
यदि तस्य प्रभावोयं पाराशर्य जगत्पतेः
If this is the power of the Lord of the world, O descendant of Parashara,
स किमर्थं त्रिसंध्यं तु राक्षसैः परिभूयते राहुणा गृह्यतेऽग्राह्यस्तत्किमर्थं द्विजोत्तम
Then why, at the three junctions of the day, is he insulted by demons, and seized by Rahu, though he is not to be seized? Why is this, O best of twice-born?
दक्षिणाग्निर्दहेत्क्रोधात्तमाक्रामति भास्करः
If the southern fire, out of anger, were to burn him, the Sun would surpass it.
त्रिसंध्यं तु त्रयो देवाः सान्निध्यं रविमंडले
At the three junctions of the day, three gods are present in the solar orb.
तमेकमेवमुद्दिश्य लोके धर्मः प्रवर्तते
Thus, with him alone as the focus, dharma is established in the world.